New signage to identify environmental vandalism
As part of a new awareness campaign, the City of Burnside has installed new temporary signage across the city for the first time following two separate incidents of significant tree poisoning on private property.
Council officers identified both incidents with assistance from members of the public who raised concerns regarding the identified trees’ health. Following arborist reviews on each tree, it was determined the damage in each instance had been caused with deliberate intent to fatally poison.
Poisoning incidents occurred at:
- 591 Glynburn Road, Hazelwood Park – one mature River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) with a trunk circumference greater than three metres was found to have had holes drilled along the lower trunk.
- 36 Tennyson Drive, Beaumont – two mature Sugar Gums (Eucalyptus cladocalyx) both with trunk circumferences greater than three metres were found to have had holes drilled along the base of the trees.
Discovery of this wilful damage was met with immediate action by Council officers, with both signs installed within 24 hours of the Tennyson Drive incident being brought to attention. All three trees were marked as significant due to their size and require Council permission to be modified or removed from private property. The maximum fine for illegally damaging or removing a significant tree is $120,000 and the possibility of a criminal conviction.
City of Burnside CEO Chris Cowley said following the recent spate of significant damage caused to the city’s urban canopy, it was disappointing to yet again see harm brought to important community assets.
‘We are a city defined in part by our stunning urban canopy, it is what makes the Burnside area so beautiful. Unfortunately, the continued damage to our natural environment threatens the heart of our community,’ Chris said.
‘Actions like these are not only illegal, but they also have a significant financial impact on Council and our ratepayers.
‘We desperately need those who commit these damaging acts to understand the impact they are causing. These signs are not something we want to deploy, but we have been left with no alternative than to begin to use them to publicly identify locations where someone has committed deliberate and illegal acts such as these, be it on public or private land.
‘If you have any concerns about the health of a tree on private or public land, be it at a house in your neighbourhood or in a Council reserve, please contact the City of Burnside immediately so that we can act.’
The Glynburn Road and Tennyson Drive poisoning incidents follow the mass damage event in Auldana earlier this year, where approximately 50 mature trees were illegally felled on Council land. Following this event, temporary signage was installed in Auldana North Reserve, drawing attention to the incident and calling for community support in protecting the urban canopy.
Signage at 36 Tennyson Drive, Beaumont, where two mature Sugar Gums were poisoned.
Signage at 591 Glynburn Road, Hazelwood Park, where a mature River Red Gum was poisoned.
